FAA investigates 'Harlem Shake' skit on Frontier flight

The FAA is trying to determine if some students violated any rules when they performed a popular dance during a flight from Colorado Springs to San Diego. Members of the Colorado College Ultimate team did the "Harlem Shake" in the aisles. (Feb. 28)
AP

In this photo from Feb. 22, 2010, Frontier Airlines jets sit at the A concourse at Denver International Airport.(Photo: David Zalubowski, AP)

Move over Dreamliner, the "Harlem Shake" is now competing for your attention with the Federal Aviation Administration.

That comes after a group of Colorado College students decided to bring the latest choreographed dance phenomenon to the cabin of a Frontier Airlines flight from Colorado Springs to San Diego, according to KUSA Channel 9 of Denver. (video below)

The students – members of Colorado College's club Frisbee team – made a video of the performance, and that's what caught the attention of the FAA.

"That was my Ultimate Frisbee team and a bunch of random people as well," 21-year-old senior team captain Dan Eppstein tells the Los Angeles Times about the episode. "Everyone who was on that flight joined in."

Eppstein says his group consulted with attendants before the performance, saying they gave students permission. He says the group also canvassed other passengers and said none objected.

As for the FAA's interest, the agency tells KUSA 9 News of Denver it's concerned about whether the plane was at a safe altitude for passengers to be out of their seats and moving about the cabin.

"They are still looking into it, it's still open," Tony Molinero, FAA spokesman tells The Catalyst, the student newspaper at Colorado College. "…I don't know where the [investigators] were told about it, but when they saw the video they just decided to look into it because it is better to be safe than sorry."

Frontier acknowledged the FAA's investigation, but insists nothing was amiss.

Frontier spokeswoman Kate O'Malley says that the company does not comment on pending investigations, but adds to NBC News: "All safety measures were followed and the seat belt sign was off."

"Obviously I hope that this whole situation is solved with the FAA…," Matt Zelin, the Colorado College sophomore who filmed the dance, says to the Catalyst. "I don't see there being any reason why this should cause any trouble. We asked the staff and they said it was safe."

Steve Wallace, former director of the FAA's Office of Accident Investigation, disagreed in an interview with CNN.